Cannot start HP Recovery

[ISOhunter109]

I am attempting to reset my EliteBook back to factory settings through HP Recovery, but I am unable to do so. After pressing F11 to bring up the Recovery menu, I got a screen with the following text:

Windows Boot Manager

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disk and reset your computer.

2. Choose your language, and then click "Next".

3. Click "Repair your computer".

If you do not have this disk, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occured while attempting to read boot configuration data.

Enter = Continue

ESC = Exit

I currently do not have the appropriate Windows installation disk in my possession. But before I decide to go out and get it, I would like to know: Is there a feasible alternative method that can get HP Recovery going without the disk under these particular circumstances?

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

ISOhunter109

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

The alternative is to use a Win7 Repair CD to rebuild the Windows boot loader files and see if that is sufficient for you PC to boot again.

You will need access to a working PC for this step in order to create the media needed to repair your PC boot loader.

You will need to create something known as a Win7 Repair CD -- which you could have made for free when Win7 was working. This will repair the boot loader files, and if that is the problem, your PC will boot OK after that.

But now, that can be obtained (for a fee) from this link: http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

When you download this file, it will be an ISO file.

To make a bootable CD from it, you will need to download and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/

Once you have that installed, run it, select the option "Write image file to disc" and select the ISO file you downloaded, and point it to a blank CD.

Boot from the media you created, and follow the directions in this link: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

You will probably have to run Startup Repair three times for it to fix all the boot loader problems.

When done, your PC should boot OK. If it does not, there is a more serious problem.

Good Luck